This Instant Pot Caramelized Carrot Soup is delectably silky and the carrots are elevated to sweet perfection thanks in the Instant Pot.
» Love soup? You might want to try this Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup or White Chicken Chili.
I learned this technique from Modernist Cuisine where they explain that the baking soda helps intensify the Maillard reaction, which is the browning affect that produces the really intense flavor.
The baking soda is added to the carrots and butter in the pressure cooker and in 20 minutes you have these incredible carrots.
There is truly something incredible about this soup. The addition of a little bit of baking soda in the Instant Pot with the carrots really allows them to get an intense caramelization that makes them so tasty.
The only issue with the Modernist Cuisine recipe is that it’s a bit difficult for home cooks. It includes techniques and ingredients that are harder to source. But I love this recipe so much that I had to adapt it to make it easier. So this is my home version of that recipe.
Ingredients You Need for Carrot Soup
Using just 5 ingredients, this soup really elevates the carrot flavor. You won’t believe how amazing it tastes. It’s the best carrot soup I’ve ever tasted, and probably my favorite soup, period. (Okay, I also really love Borscht – I’m a beet fan).
- Carrots – fresh, crisp carrots right out of the garden are the best and sweetest, but it’s fine to use a bag of little carrots.
- Butter – salted or unsalted; you can add more salt to taste
- Baking soda – just a small amount is needed. The baking soda helps intensify the Malliard reaction, which under pressure in the Instant Pot will make sure the carrots caramelize, and that’s the basis of this recipe. Without the baking soda, it won’t reach that caramel level.
- Chicken broth – the original recipe calls for carrot broth so you can use that if you can find it, otherwise chicken or vegetable broth both are fine
- Salt – the carrots need a bit of salt to counteract the sweetness
Why Use An Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. If you don’t have one, check out our guide on which one to buy. Also see our guide to How to Use an Instant Pot and the many accessories you can buy for it.
- Don’t Have an Instant Pot? This guide can help you choose the right one.
- See reviews and prices for Instant Pots on Amazon.
- Learn some great Instant Pot Tips & Tricks.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Instant Pot.
How to Make Caramelized Carrot Soup
You will need an Instant Pot or a pressure cooker for this recipe. I’ve tried it on the stove top and it doesn’t turn out the same. It’s not possible to caramelize the carrots on the stovetop, like you can in the Instant Pot.
Step One
Peel and cut the carrots into quarters, then remove the tough inner core. This part of the carrot can be quite bitter, so it will enhance the flavor and texture to cut the core out.
Cut the slices into 2” pieces or sticks.
Press the saute mode of your Instant Pot and melt the butter in the pot. Then add the carrots and stir them to coat with butter. Sprinkle the salt and baking soda over the carrots and pour in the water. Then give it all a good stir.
Step Two
Secure the lid and set the vent to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. Do a quick release of the pressure when it’s done.
You’re going to love the aromas that come from the pot when you open the lid. You can instantly smell the caramelization. It’s heavenly.
Step Three
Add the chicken stock to the pot and then puree the soup, in the pot, with an immersion blender until smooth. The immersion blender really is the way to go here. You won’t have to dirty another pot and it’s so quick and easy. Just blend it until all the chunks are gone and the puree starts to form small bubbles. This is when it becomes silky and smooth.
Heat the soup on saute mode until hot, about 3 minutes. My Instant Pot heats up really fast on saute mode and takes a while to cool back down, so I only leave it on saute mode for 3 minutes. Any longer and it might burn on the bottom.
Turn off saute mode and add the final bits of butter. Then puree it again with the immersion blender until the butter has melted and blended into the soup.
Tips for the Best Outcome
- Use the best quality carrots you can find and be sure to remove the inner core, which can add bitterness to the soup.
- Don’t skip the baking soda. It allows the carrots to become extra caramelized, as it enhances the maillard reaction.
- You can use salted or unsalted butter. If you use unsalted, you may need to add additional salt, to taste.
- It’s necessary to blend the soup until it turns creamy. It takes a bit longer than you might expect, but just keep blending until some air gets incorporated into the soup and it looks creamier.
>> You might also like this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup.
Do I Need An Immersion Blender For This Recipe?
No you don’t, though we highly recommend using one. They are very handy, easy to use and keep you from using extra dishes. You can use a blender or food processor if that is what you have. Just remember that the steam from hot liquids can build up inside the blender and can blow the lid off making a mess and potentially burning you.
Can I Freeze Carrot Soup?
Frozen carrot soup will store for up to six months and reheats perfectly, from frozen, on the stovetop over low heat. You can also add the frozen soup to the instant pot and cook under pressure for 0 minutes with a 5 minute natural pressure release.
Do I Have to Peel the Carrots?
Yes, you want to peel the carrots to remove the tough outer skin. This also removes impurities that get caught in the crevices and takes away any bitterness from the skin.
To go a step further, you also need to cut the carrots in quarters and remove the inner hard core. There is a lot of bitterness in the core too and that can affect the sweetness of the soup.
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Instant Pot Caramelized Carrot Soup
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb carrots peeled and cores removed
- 1/2 cup butter 113g
- 1/8 cup water 30ml
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2.5g
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Cut the carrots into quarters and remove the tough inner core. Cut the slices into 2” pieces.
- Press the saute mode of your Instant Pot and melt the 1/2 cup of butter. Add the carrots and stir to coat with butter. Sprinkle over the salt and baking soda. Pour in the water. Stir.
- Secure the lid and set the vent to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. Do a quick release of the pressure.
- Add the chicken stock and puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender (or in a blender or food processor) until smooth. Heat on saute mode, no longer than 3 minutes. Turn off saute mode.
- Add the final 2 tbsp of butter and again puree with the immersion blender until the butter has melted and blended in.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.
Wow! This carrot soup looks incredible! I love how creamy and easy it is to make! Perfect weeknight meal.
I’m loving this carrot soup! Perfect for the Easter season too!
Adding the baking soda is such a game changer! I can’t believe I hadn’t tried this method earlier — thanks for sharing!
This is the perfect soup for me – I’m a carrot fan and I love my Instant Pot so it’s a double win!
This is so good!! Perfectly comforting plus so easy for busy nights!
This soup is perfect for the chilly nights we have been having and love that I can make it in the instant pot!
Comfort food at its best! So creamy!
I’ve been trying to use my Instant Pot more, and this carrot soup is next on my list! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I am surprised that the instant pot can build up pressure with just 1/8 cup of water. That’s not a misprint is it?
Hi Bob, it does seem surprising, but with the butter and the water content in the carrots, it works great. We’ve made this recipe dozens of time, works every time. If you have an 8-quart it would probably require 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water.
Excellent. If I replace baking soda with honey, how many tsps of honey should be add?
Hi Rudi, you wouldn’t want to replace the baking soda with honey in this recipe because it would likely burn in the Instant Pot.
Me again. Could be added something plus for more flavor?
This soup has a delicious carrot flavor. It doesn’t really need anything else for flavor. You could try using some fresh herbs to finish it. Let us know if you give it a try.